A bunch of us are planning a chapter trip to the Driftless Region for a late summer fishing trip on the weekend of August 18-20. We plan to stay and fish in the area of Decorah and Waukon and meet up at least for meals. The plan would be to drive out Friday and fish in the afternoon, fish Saturday and Sunday morning before returning to Nebraska. Some of us might camp whereas others might prefer a hotel. This is still in the planning stages, and what exactly we do depends on who signs up and wants to do what. Send me (Mark van Roojen) an email at mvr1@earthlink.net or call me at 402-438-3724 and we will include you in our planning.

The Driftless region is a world class trout fishery, much improved over the last 40 years by the efforts of many conservationists, farmers, fisherfolk, and TU which employs several people working to improve the fishery yet further. More information about the fishing can be found at the Iowa Tourism Office, which hosts the above image by Bill Nellans.

For our July meeting our chapter will join Nebraska Game and Parks staff at Family Fishing Night at Zorinsky Lake near 156th and F in Omaha. Look for NGPC's colorful fishing trailer in the boat ramp parking lot. Our chapter will bring some of our instructional rods and teach anyone who wants to learn to cast a fly rod. If we have more instructors than students some of us might also fish. (Nebraska Fishing Licence required for those 16 and older.) NGPC will also have rods and reels to borrow, bait and certified fishing instructors ready to help for those who prefer to fish with a bait casting rod.

Afterwards those interested will go for drinks and snacks at a nearby venue.

We will have a regular chapter board meeting at 6:30 PM on Tuesday June 27th at the Papio-Missouri NRD Building at Wehrspann Lake/Chalco Hills Recreation Area. Members are welcome to attend. We'll elect a board member to fill a vacant position andplan some engaging events for the coming year. The photo above was taken at our most recent on June 11th near Weeping Water.

After the business is over we generally go to the Choo Choo Bar & Grill, 14240 U (off Millard Avenue) for socializing.

Schlichtemeier Reservoir, 9.6 Miles East of Weeping Water on Weeping Water Rd. North side

We're planning on an afternoon of fun, fishing at Dr Schlichtemeier's family pond which holds large bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and gigantic grass carp. The fishing is usually very good. We'll have water and soft drinks to accompany whatever you bring for a potluck picnic. We plan to have a charcoal grill available to grill whatever people wish to bring. Fly fishing is not mandatory but we will have a few spare rods to share if you don't have one and wish to try. All welcome, kids included!

If you email me at mvr1@earthlink.net, I'll send you a link to a Google Map of the exact site.

We will have a regular chapter board meeting at 7 PM on Tuesday May 23rd at 7 PM at the Papio-Missouri NRD Building at Wehrspann Lake/Chalco Hills Recreation Area. Members are welcome to attend. We'll focus a good bit of our discussion on planning engaging events apart from meetings for the coming year, so as to give members more notice. Many of these will involve fishing in the area, and perhaps also participation in a Fly Fishing Film Festival with Cornhusker Fly Fishers.

We'll also go over plans for the June 7 Casting For Recovery event at Ponca State Park. Casting for Recovery sponsors retreats to improve quality of life for women with breast cancer through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. At this particular retreat, several of our members will serve as guides for participants on the morning of the 7th starting at 8 AM, fishing the ponds there until lunch time.

After the business is over we generally go to the Choo Choo Bar & Grill, 14240 U (off Millard Avenue) for socializing.